Table 1.
Characteristics of 85-year-olds in the Gothenburg Birth Cohort studies at baseline
| Cohort | 1901–02 (n = 494) |
1923–24 (n = 571) |
|---|---|---|
| Female sex % (n) | 71.1 (351/494) | 62.9 (359/571)* |
| Age at baseline, mean (SD) | 85.5 (0.1) | 85.9 (0.2)*** |
| More than mandatory education % (n) | 24.9 (113/454) | 56.0 (311/555)*** |
| MMSE, median (IQR) (n) | 27 (22–29) (491) | 27 (24–29) (555)** |
| Married, % (n) | 23.9 (117/490) | 35.5 (195/550)*** |
| Sheltered living, % (n) | 24.1 (119/494) | 13.3 (76/561)*** |
| Dementia, % (n) | 29.8 (147/494) | 21.5 (123/571)** |
| Dementia severity | ||
| Mild % (n) | 27.9 (41/147) | 10.6 (13/123)*** |
| Moderate % (n) | 34.7 (51/147) | 46.3 (57/123) |
| Severe % (n) | 37.4 (55/147) | 43.1 (53/123) |
| Cancer % (n) | 7.3 (36/494) | 9.3 (53/571) |
| Cerebrovascular disorders % (n) | 18.8 (93/494) | 24.3 (139/571)* |
| Congestive heart failure % (n) | 25.5 (126/494) | 32.4 (185/571)* |
| Diabetes mellitus % (n) | 9.1 (45/494) | 14.7 (84/571) |
| Chronic bronchitis % (n) | 11.7 (58/494) | 8.4 (48/571) |
| Atrial fibrillation % (n) | 18.4 (91/494) | 24.9 (142/571)* |
| Angina pectoris % (n) | 21.9 (108/494) | 20.0 (114/571)** |
| Myocardial infarction % (n) | 11.7 (58/494) | 19.3 (110/571) |
| Total cholesterol mmol/L, mean (SD), (n) | 5.4 (1.2) (425) | 5.3 (1.2) (514) |
| Cholesterol treatment | 0.0 (0/494) | 20.1 (111/553)*** |
| Hypertension, % (n) | 82.4 (406/493) | 56.8 (300/528)*** |
| Hypertension treatment, % (n) | 17.5 (83/475) | 54.9 (298/543)*** |
Statistical analysis: Pearson’s Chi-square test for categorical variables, independent samples t-test for differences in means, and Mann–Whitney U Test for differences in medians.
*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, all other values are not significant